Anonymous coaches pick Washington to win
Love it. Adds fuel to our fire.
https://theathletic.com/5178400/2024/01/04/michigan-washington-coaches-scouting-report/
“This is probably the first time I’ve ever been fired up for a national championship game,” said one coordinator who faced Washington earlier this year. “I’m so fascinated with this game because they’re like two polar opposites going against each other.”
Michigan’s bruising play along the lines and run-heavy offensive style will square off with Washington’s high-flying, pass-first attack at NRG Stadium in Houston on Monday night. The Athletic spoke with 10 head coaches, coordinators and assistants who have faced either Michigan or Washington this season to gauge their thoughts on the matchup, granting them anonymity to discuss both teams candidly.
No coaches leaned toward Michigan or Washington winning big, but a majority picked Washington to win as an underdog. One coach was shocked to learn Michigan was a four-point favorite. But another assistant said Michigan may be the better team in all aspects.
“It’s hard to go against Michigan, but I just think Washington is more battle-tested, and they find a way to do it one more time,” said one head coach.
January 4th, 2024 at 12:36 PM ^
Well I had to Google it and it is similar but with the Chicago Sunroof the sunroof is open..so it is similar to an OSU cooler as well in that it is inside not on top
January 4th, 2024 at 1:23 PM ^
"He wanted soft serve, I gave him soft serve."
I also maintain that Ryan Day is a connoisseur of squat cobbler.
Sorry to have planted those visions.
January 4th, 2024 at 2:26 PM ^
He's pissing off two groups of coaches; those that win with all the talent, and those that can't beat the coaches with all the talent.
He's pissing off the latter and by doing what they can't. Beating the coaches with all the talent.
And he's pissing off the former by showing their success is laregly due to overwhelming talent advatages, not because they know the game better.
January 4th, 2024 at 11:32 AM ^
Deja vu
"Washington is more battle tested"
LOL. The 2023-24 Michigan team might be the most battle tested football program in the history of the sport. The shit the team has endured on and off the field is unprecedented. For Michigan to be 14-0 right now and playing for a NC is nothing short of spectacular.
January 4th, 2024 at 11:36 AM ^
All over again.
January 4th, 2024 at 11:32 AM ^
Anonymous coaches have been trying to beat Michigan all year and haven't.
January 4th, 2024 at 11:32 AM ^
At this point, saying Michigan will lose is a proven way to drive clicks. And hey, I'm clicking on this article. I can't really cast stones
January 4th, 2024 at 11:47 AM ^
Was about to say, at this point it's a bit.
January 4th, 2024 at 11:33 AM ^
“Washington played worse more often so they’ll probably win” remains the dumbest goddamn thing I keep hearing this week.
January 4th, 2024 at 12:16 PM ^
The simplest predictor of games in football is the trenches. And this matchup is nowhere near as close competitively as Bama/Penn State/Ohio State were, and look how those went
January 4th, 2024 at 1:32 PM ^
I would say dumber is the Steven A. Smith quote (that I saw referenced on twitter) where he said that all future Rose Bowls should be played at SoFi stadium instead....
January 4th, 2024 at 11:33 AM ^
aka - everyone likes Washington better.
January 4th, 2024 at 11:33 AM ^
lol SP+ has us winning handily. I’m looking for a 14 plus win…
January 4th, 2024 at 11:34 AM ^
Probably the same guys who picked Alabama to beat us, just like most of the pundits did. I think most people picked OSU to beat us too. Just keep picking against Michigan, guys.
January 4th, 2024 at 11:35 AM ^
What else is new
January 4th, 2024 at 11:35 AM ^
"More battle tested"?
M played (6) games less Jim Harbaugh and with all due respect to having to face Oregon twice (be careful what you wish for as Oregon/Georgia were my biggest fears and relief in the playoff) I do not see W as more battle tested then M.
January 4th, 2024 at 11:36 AM ^
Why does it take anonymity to speak candidly about who will win this game? Another round of great investigative journalism by Feldman! Can’t wait for the post game anonymous follow up article. He seems to have the market cornered on anonymous “reporting”.
January 4th, 2024 at 11:41 AM ^
If it wasn't anonymous, these coaches wouldn't say anything.
January 4th, 2024 at 12:34 PM ^
Even with it being anonymous, they coaches don't say anything meaningful.
January 4th, 2024 at 11:47 AM ^
Lilpenny is correct above, but it's kind of pitiful that coaches aren't free to speak candidly about their opinions. The thing is, they're not being candid; they're simply pushing whatever agenda they want.
For the semis, the SEC coaches pushed the SEC agenda (promote the SEC) and Big Ten coaches pushed the Big Ten agenda (shit on Michigan).
It's the same agenda now: Shit on Michigan.
January 4th, 2024 at 11:36 AM ^
let me guess.......all Big Ten coaches that were dogwalked by UofM this season
January 4th, 2024 at 11:56 AM ^
Let's call it "poochkicked to hell and back".
January 4th, 2024 at 11:38 AM ^
Last 5 games have been against four top 10 teams.
But sure... UW is more tested.
January 4th, 2024 at 11:41 AM ^
and we didn't have our head coach for 2 of 4 games.
January 4th, 2024 at 1:13 PM ^
Nitpick, but Iowa was never a top 10 team.
January 4th, 2024 at 11:40 AM ^
Washington is legit, but not all battles are created equal. Stanford, Arizona State and Wazzu should not be 4 quarter battles.
January 4th, 2024 at 11:41 AM ^
Washington could win. But they won't.
January 4th, 2024 at 11:41 AM ^
More battle tested? Bahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahaahaaa.
January 4th, 2024 at 11:44 AM ^
Feldman giving us bulletin board material again. Thanks!
January 4th, 2024 at 11:45 AM ^
One Coach was "Shocked" that UM was favored? Really, UM is favored by nearly every metric, Computers and Humans. UW has been doubted for months and has been an underdog in their last 3 games. Why the heck would UM NOT be favored. I assume that is a B1G coach -- probably PSU, MSU or OSU.
January 4th, 2024 at 11:49 AM ^
I think they thought the spread should be closer, not that Washington should be favored. Not that the coach knows the first thing about setting lines. And if he does, that's not a good sign since he shouldn't be betting on games.
January 4th, 2024 at 11:58 AM ^
This "coach" possibly goes with his gut and not by number or stats. They are most probably undefeated as well despite a few losses here and there.
January 4th, 2024 at 12:02 PM ^
My dark horse pick is Purdue. That is one irrational coaching staff when it comes to all this sign stealing stuff.
Plus, all the MSU coaches are gone.
January 4th, 2024 at 12:03 PM ^
I actually think it's more likely to be a PAC coach who can't fathom how an offense could be successful without passing 40 times a game, and hasn't watched Michigan all year so they're under the false impression that we still use an old school offense from 1995
January 4th, 2024 at 11:45 AM ^
There is exactly one coaching staff who has actual head to head experience against both programs. They're really the only ones qualified to have an informed opinion on this.
Let's hear from that bastion of reasonability and critical thinking... Your Michigan State Spartans!
January 4th, 2024 at 11:50 AM ^
Fun fact: we pulled McCarthy with 6 mins to go in the 3rd Q. Washington pulled Penix with about 4 mins to go in the 3rd Q. The measure of how good you are is how few mins past halftime your starting QB plays against MSU, and we won that one :)
January 4th, 2024 at 11:58 AM ^
By that metric MSU should have won both games, because Mel Tucker pulled penix before the season even started.
January 4th, 2024 at 10:07 PM ^
Absolute gold... hilarious!
January 4th, 2024 at 12:04 PM ^
The MSU coaches are in the unemployment line.
January 4th, 2024 at 11:45 AM ^
Our OC being free to focus on scheming and not carry the team & game management responsibilities is a factor these "coaches" seem to be overlooking, and I think this is even more important on a short week of prep. I thought the gameplan for the Rose Bowl was brilliant. And if not for some execution issues, Michigan would have looked like an utter juggernaut.
Also overlooked: this is a team of MFing destiny!
January 4th, 2024 at 11:47 AM ^
"Anonymous coaches pick Washington to win"
Alternate title
"Coaches that really, really hate Michigan and especially Harbaugh plus guys like me in the national media who have created the "cheaterz" narrative to explain Michigan's dominance this season are on their hands and knees praying to sweet baby Jesus that Washington wins."
January 4th, 2024 at 11:47 AM ^
Washington certainly did have some battles against...Arizona State. And Stanford.
January 4th, 2024 at 11:51 AM ^
I don’t understand “more battle tested”.
Michigan played PSU on the road without Jim, OSU without Jim, Iowa (tough defense), and Bama IN THE LAST 5 games! They are tested as much as Washington, who’s played Oregon twice, Oregon St, and Texas as the only legit teams or threats in top 25. I wouldn’t say that’s more “tested”, that’s so overblown.
January 4th, 2024 at 12:02 PM ^
And Maryland is pretty damn solid.
January 4th, 2024 at 11:52 AM ^
I hope every B1G coach picked Washington....
January 4th, 2024 at 11:54 AM ^
“It’s hard to go against Michigan, but I just think Washington is more battle-tested, and they find a way to do it one more time,” said one head coach.
Someone didn't watch the Rose Bowl.
Washington is dangerous as hell, and I expect them to give us all we can handle. I just think past examples generally show that teams built like Washington don't win it all. The coaches are right about one thing, it's a fascinating matchup. I can't wait for Monday night!
January 4th, 2024 at 11:54 AM ^
Love it, this team has been feeding on slights and insults all season, keep giving them more fuel!!
That aside, I am finding this increasingly perplexing. Objectively, if UM wins on Monday this is sneakily one football's best teams over the past decade (may still be regardless), yet the way so many "anonymously" speak about our team you'd think we are fighting just to reach bowl eligibility. These coaches do realize that UW hasn't won a game by more than 10 points since they beat Cal on September 23rd right? That includes games against 3-9 ASU, 3-9 Stanford and 5-7 WSU - you know, the types of teams that we were routinely beating by 4-5 touchdowns - guess that's battle tested for you people!!
January 4th, 2024 at 12:30 PM ^
That is incredible - I literally couldn't believe it. I looked it up and yep, 10 wins in a row by no more than 10 points.
You could call that a team of destiny ... but it could also be a team living on borrowed time.
January 4th, 2024 at 1:42 PM ^
That fact is the biggest thing that gives me pause about the game because it is pretty much exactly the same story as TCU last season.
Hopefully, UM does to Washington what Georgia did to TCU.